AN URBAN oasis has been created to help refresh flagging community spirit.

Neighbours in the Gordon Street area of Abbey Hey have turned unsightly alleyways into community gardens after receiving a Manchester City Council cash grant.

Householders had the passages gated off and used the £4,000 grant to pay for planters, hanging baskets and benches to turn the area into an outdoor relaxation area.

Marie Brinicombe launched the initiative with fellow residents Rita hughes and Paula Goddard last August and since then have recruited support from the whole community.

They have used local businesses including Harvey's Garden Design and the flower stall at Gorton Market to turn the area into a haven.

Marie said: "We set up a residents group to organise this and everyone's been involved. We've had a lot of people volunteering to do little jobs. It means young people can play safely and older people can sit and chat on sunny days.

"Some of us have been living on this street a long time. There have been a lot of changes over 20 years. We wanted to bring back the community like it used to be.

"Now that we've got this area people feel a lot more confident and safe and are much more likely to stop and talk.

"Over the years there's been a lot of people renting and they move on people don't get to know each other like they used to. We want to have a community back where everyone is considerate to each other."